February 01, 2009

French Hatbox, playing with swatches

Well, I've been having a lovely Sunday playing with swatches of French Hatbox, and going to Starbucks for hot chocolate, and taking a walk with my crazy family, it's always an adventure with them truly.

Trying to get ideas for samples to make for market with FH. I think it would be fun to make a little crazy patchwork dress, maybe for a little one. Won't be getting any real yardage for a while but like to just play to start getting ideas.

Have to tell you I'm always a little nervous about putting up a new collection, I mean you all are so incredibly supportive and just plain nice but there's always the chance that someone won't like it and will say so, which would be ok, but, ya know, I want you to like it!

Obviously this collection is super fem, the colors do remind me of the Sophia Coppola film, Marie Antoinette, all sherbet and candy. It's allllll girl, sort of like a sugar cookie with pink icing and those cool silver sprinkle things on top, and I can't wait to make some pretty things for Ava's bed with it...

By the way, I am a total Facebook convert. It is way fun to be able to keep up with people in real time that way. After I got over the initial weirdness of it (if you join it's likely you'll run into people you haven't seen or heard from since kindergarten) I really got into being able to just check in with what my friends and creative peeps are doing in real time. It's just fun, like a real conversation that you can participate in but don't have to.

I even started a group there called Proud to be a Haus-Frau. I put it up as kind of a joke between me and my best girl but apparently it resonated because we already have 44 members. Here's the description I put on Facebook:

For all women who are so busy schlepping kids around that they find themselves make-up less at kids soccer games, the supermarket, work, etc. on a regular basis. You know who you are, women who haven't had quite enough "mirror time" since their first baby! But are strangely happy that life is so full even if it means they don't always get a daily shower in! Haus-fraus unite! Let the world know about "Haus-Frau Chic."

This group was inspired by my best friend who, when given the eye by a cute guy on the street, exclaimed "don't look at me, I'm a haus -frau." This cracked me up and ever since then I take every opportunity that presents itself to describe myself as a (very proud) Haus-frau.

Comments

PRETTY fabrics!! You do NOT disappoint :D Go with that dress for QM, it is dang cute!

Haus-fraus ROCK! My friend and I were just discusing this last night, I would NEVER leave the house before without makeup, now I am going from the gym to the store for groceries. No makeup AND sweat clothes that are ummm, errr, SWEATY! :0 You do what you gotta do sometimes ya know??? :D

Oh my gosh, that fabric is so beautiful!! I cannot wait till I get some. Just as soon as I think there could not anything prettier than your last collection, you outdo yourself. These fabrics you keep designing are so nice for the people that love Cottage looking, vintage Shabby Chic! I wish I could have everything in an entire bolt!

Hi !
I am sakura from Tokyo , Japan .
I LOVE your blog, everything is so fantastic !
As a reader of your blog, I must tell you how much I enjoy it.
Lovely!!!
You're on my daily list!
Thanks for giving me so much inspiration!

Stunning new fabric line! Hope the house hunt is going ok - but have you seen the snow we've been having in Europe, and arctic winds from Russia?!
Careful with facebook, it is totally addictive - I never mean to spend as long on there as I end up doing.
Kim xx

Oh Tanya, GORGEOUS again!! Love the patchwork idea, so pretty and girly :)
I had a great Super Bowl Sunday being I'm from Pittsburgh, WOW what a game! And now looking forward to Market being in my backyard, can't wait!!!
xo
Ruth

Where do I start...I love your fabric! I found you through another blog and instantly fell in love! But now I have a problem...I can't decide on what fabric to use. I just had a beautiful baby girl on Sunday. I brought her home to no nursery/room because I couldn't make up my mind(actually I never found anything I REALLY liked) on a design for her room. When I clicked on your blog, I instantly new just from the picture for your header that this was the style I wanted for her room. Anyways, because you are so amazingly talented and created 4 beautiful lines...I cant make up my mind...thanks! If you did a fifth line I would love to see something with a deep red w/ white polka-dots and a flowery fabric to mix with it...or maybe something with a purple combo...I don't know. I can't wait to see what you keep popping out! But for now have you seen anyone use your fabric for a baby-girl room? I would love to see pictures. If not I'll show you my finished product(if I can ever make up my mind) of the room. Now I just need to bug Hobby Lobby to get your line in their store! If not I will have to Google the store in Austin and take a trip down there to get what I need. OK, sorry for the super long post...Keep up the awesome work!

I wish there were more photos and blogs about French Hatbox! It seems like you went straight from Darla to Dolce and skipped right over the glory that is this gorgeous line. I want to do my daughter's nursery in this line (well, originally I wanted Ava Rose but it's impossible to find the aqua large rose print and that's the one I'm really crazy about) and I'm having such a hard time finding photos of finished products that have this line.

Hello!!

Hi There!I'm Tanya. I blog here about my life and my work as an author, fabric, product and sewing pattern designer. My fabrics, scrap booking products, paper products and sewing patterns are available globally. My second book for Random House, Sew Many Dresses, Sew Little Time includes interchangeable patterns to create 219 unique dresses. It will be released June 16th, 2015. Thank you for coming by!